BYU and Baylor presidents discuss student faith formation at Salt Lake City forum

BYU President Shane Reese and Baylor President Linda Livingstone discussed how their universities approach student faith formation during a panel Friday night at the G20 Interfaith Forum in Salt Lake City, the Deseret News reported. ^[1]

Reese said he or BYU's academic vice president interviews every prospective faculty member. "Faculty will shape the culture for 30 years," he said. The Deseret News reported that the share of BYU graduates who say their faith in Jesus Christ was strengthened on campus has risen from 78% to 91% during Reese's four years as president. ^[1]

Livingstone said Baylor hires faculty from the Christian and Jewish traditions and asks them to consider how faith informs their teaching and advising. She said Baylor's Faith and Character Study found church attendance was among the best predictors of retention, graduation and grade-point average, and that the school changed its chapel experience and scripture classes in response. ^[1]

Both presidents said faith-based education appeals to students who are motivated by purpose. Livingstone said faith-based schools can show that people of different traditions can work together. Remarks from Ibrahim Saleh Al-Naimi, an under secretary in Qatar's Ministry of Education, were also read because he could not attend. ^[1]